The victim, who is McElhinney's girlfriend and has been living with him since October, came to the police station in her pajamas and bare feet and said she had been attacked by McElhinney, the prosecutor said.

"She said he had been on lithium, but he stopped taking his medication and he began 'acting crazy,' " Thompson said.

On Monday, McElhinney became enraged when the woman opened the mail and grabbed it from her, but did not assault her. That night, she fell asleep on the couch, and around 2 a.m., he yelled for her to come to bed.

"She laid down on the couch and, out of nowhere, the defendant slapped her across the face," Thompson said.

McElhinney then climbed on top of the woman and told her he could stop her from breathing whenever he wanted and he grabbed her mouth and nose, blocking her breathing, repeatedly, until she escaped from the home and went to the police station.

"She was crying and shaking when speaking to the police officers," Thompson said.

Police charged McElhinney with attempted murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and assault and battery.

Thompson asked Judge Douglas Stoddart to hold McElhinney without bail pending a hearing to determine if he is a danger to the public. She also asked the judge to revoke McElhinney's bail from a February arrest. In that incident, McElhinney was involved in a road rage incident and shoved another driver into a car, Thompson said.

Stoddart agreed with Thompson's recommendation, revoking his bail for 90 days. McElhinney is due back in court today for the dangerousness hearing.

Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@wickedlocal.com. For up-to-date crime news, follow Norman Miller on Twitter @Norman_MillerMW.